ANNUAL    MESSAGE 


OF 


GOVERNOR  JOSEPH  E.  BROWN, 


TO     THE 


GEORGIA     LEGISLATURE, 


ASSEMBLED    NOVEMBER    GTH,     1862. 


BOUGHTON,  NISBET  &  BARNES,  Statk  I'iumkrs. 

MILLEDGEVII.I.E,    CA., 


18C2. 


ziNNUAL    MESSAGE 


OF 


GOVERNOR  JOSEPH  E.  BROWN 


TO     THE 


GEORGIA     LEGISLATURE, 


ASSEMLED    NOVEMBER    6TH,     1862. 


BOUGHTON,  NISBET  &  BARNES,  State   Phikters. 

MILLEDGEVILLE,    GA., 


ISG'2. 


m 


.•*■•■* 


*Jlk! 


IRC  rLUWtfO  UOLLttTirvv 


THE  FlO\ms  COLLECTION 


GOVERNOR'S  MESSAGE. 


Executive  Department,      ) 
MiLLEDGEviLLE,  November  6th,  1S62.  J 

To  the  Sen  air  and 

HoKsr  of  ffrpresentatives  :  *'^*^t^ 

For  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  Treasury,  you  are 
respectfully  referred  to  the  reports  of  the  Treasurer  and  the 
Comptroller  General.  It  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  these 
reports  that  the  whole  public  debt  of  this  State,  including 
the  Treasury  notes  issued  up  to  this  period,  amounts  to  $8,- 
417,750,  and  that  the  public  property  of  the  State,  including 
Bank  stock,  Railroad  stock,  and  the  Western  and  Atlantic 
Railroad,  which  is  the  property  of  the  State,  amounts  at  a 
low  valuation  to  SS, 840,124  GS.  It  would  therefore  be  in 
the  power  of"the  State  to  pay  every  dollar  of  her  debt  with 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  her  public  property,  if  her  cred- 
itors would  consent  to   receive  the  money  before  due. 

THE    FIVE    MILLION   ArrROPEIATION. 

t 

Of  the  five  millions  of  dollars,  appropriated  at  your  last 
session  for  military  purposes,  only  S2',$39,290  25  have  been 
drawn  from  the  Treasury  during  the  fiscal  year.  Of  this 
sum  8350,000  haiS  been  returned  by  Lieut.  Col.  Jared  I, 
Whitaker,  Commissary  General,  and  850,000  by  Lieut. 
Col.  Ira  R.  Foster,  Quarteitmaster  General,  and  858,286 
by  Major  L.  H.  ]\[cIntosh,  Chief  of  Ordinance,  for  stores  in 
their  respective  departments,  sold  to  officers  under  the  arh>y 
regulations,  and  to  the  Confederacy  after  the  State  troops 
were  transferred.  The  amount  of  the  appropriation  wbicli 
has  been  used,  is  therefore,  $2,081,004  25.  Of  this  sum 
$100,000  was  expended  in  payment  for  arms  purchased  in 
England  prior  to  your  last  session ;  and  850,000  40 
for  iron  to  be  used  in  fortifications  and  upon  the  gun- 
boat called  the  "  State  of  Georgia."  This  boat  was 
built   under  the    supervision    ot    Major  General    Jackson 


Pti7840 


# 


while  ill  coniniand,  and  completed  after  he  retired.  The 
balance  of  the  money  for  its  construction  was  contributed 
by  the  cities  of  Savannah  Augusta  and  other  corporations, 
by  soldiers,  and  chiefly  by  the  ladies  of  this  St.'ife,  who  have 
shown  since  tlie  commencement  of  our  struggle,  on  all  pro- 
per occasions,  a  liberality  and  patriotism  worthy  the  most 
distinguished  matrons  of  the  Revolution  of  1776. 

For  support,  equipment,  pay  and  transportation  of  two 
companies  now  in  service  as  Bridge  Guards  on  the  State 
Koad,  $1 0,000.  This  leaves  $1,921,000  8-3,  which,  together 
with  a  special  appropriation  of  $100,000,  was  expended 
upon  the  Georgia  army,  and  for  other  contingent  military 
purposes.  It  will  be  seen,  however,  l)y  reference  to  the 
Reports  of  the  Quartermaster  General  and  the  Chief  of 
Ordnance,  that  very  considerable  sums  were  expended  for 
the  purchase  of  horses,  artillery,  &c.,  which  were  transfer- 
red to  the  Confederacy  with  the  Georgia  army,  for  which  no 
payment  has  yet  been  made  to  the  State.  Tliese  sums,  with 
contingent  military  expenditures,  .when  deducted  from  the 
above  mentioned  sums,  will  leave  the  whole  cost  of  the 
Georgia  army  of  nearly  8,000  men,  for  nearly  six  months, 
including  pay,  clothing,  subsistence,  transport ition,  and 
every  other  expense,  a  little  short  of  $2,000,000. 

TREASURY    NOTES. 

The  Appropriation  Bill  passed  at  your  last  session  made 
it  my  duty,  in  case  there  should  not,  at  any  time,  be  money 
in  the  Treasury  to  meet  any  appropriation,  to  raise  it  by  the 
.sale  of  State  bonds,  or  by  issuing  Treasury  nates,  as  I  might 
think  best.  In  each  case  where  I  had  the  discretion,  I  did 
not  hesitate  to  decide  to  issue  Treasury  notes,  bearing  no 
interest,  in  place  of  bonds  bearing  interest ;  and  I  have 
found  these  notes  not  only  current,  but  in  great  demand  as 
an  investment.  The  whole  amount  of  Treasury  notes  is- 
sued is  $2,320,000. 

Finding  it  difficult  to  get  good  paper  and  to  get  the  work 
properly  executed,  I  sent  Hon.  James  Jackson  as  the  agent 
of  the  State  to  New  Orleans,  to  make  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements for  the  importation  of  the  paper  and  the  neces- 
sary contract  w^ith  a  competent  engraver  for  the  execution 
of  the  work.  In  both  particulars  he  was  succe&?ful.  While 
the  work  was  progressing  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  but  be- 
fore its  completion,  the  city  was  so  seriously  threatened  by 
the  enemy,  that  I  thought  it  prudent  to  have  the  work  in 
its  unfinished  state,  with  the  stones,  plates,  paper,  &c.,  re- 
moved to  this  State.  Under  my  instructions.  Judge  Jack- 
son returned  to  the  eity  for  this  purpose,  settled  with  the 
contractor  for  the  work  done,  and  had  all  the  printed  bills 
and  material  ui  transitu  for  Georgia,  when  the  city  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  iniiimous  tyrant,  Butler,  whose  name  will 


descend  to  posterity  on  history's  darkest  page.  I  then  em- 
ployed Mr.  Howell,  of  Savannah,  to  complete  the  job, 
which  was  done  in  a  manner  quite  satisfactory.  The  notes 
are  payable  in  specie  or  eight  per  cent,  bonds,  s!x  months 
after  a  treaty  of  peace,  or  when  the  Banks  of  Augusta 
and  Savannah  resume  specie  payments  if  before  that  time. 
These  notes  have  generally  been  laid  away  as  a  safe  invest- 
ment by  banks  au<l  others  into  whose  hands  they  have  fal- 
len:  and  it  is  a  rare  occurrence  to  see  one  in  circulation. 
Should  it  become  necessary,  as  it  probably  will,  to  extend 
the  issue  to  meet  part  of  the  liabilities  of  the  Treasury  for 
the  present  iiscal  year  ;  I  respectfully  recommend  that  no 
alter;ition  be  made  in  the  form  of  the  notes,  as  there  is  on 
hand  a  very  con€!iderjable  amount  of  the  printed  bills  that 
can  soon  be  issued  without  expense,  which  would  be  useless 
in  cufie  of  any  change  in  the  present  form,  and  it  would  cost 
great  delay  and  expense  to  procure  paper  and  have  others 
prepared. 

The  only  objection  insisted  upon  against  the  issue  of 
Treasury  notes,,  in  place  of  the  sale  of  bonds  to  meet 
the  demands  on  the  Treasury,  is,  that  the  issue  of  a  large 
amount  of  notes  to  be  circulated  as  currency,  depreciates 
the  value  of  paper  currency  in  fhe  market.  This  is  un- 
questionably true,  as  evidenced  by  *i?lf^ resent  state  of  our 
currency.  But  it  is  equally  true  that  enough  of  paper  cur- 
rency must  beissued,  in  the  present  condition  of  the  coun- 
try, to  meet  the  demand.  Suppose  the  State  needs  a  mil- 
Hon  of  dollars,  and  puts  her  bonds  in  the  market  to  raise  it, 
and  receives  pgper  currency  in  payment  for  tnem,  it  is  quite 
evident  that  the  Confederacy,  or  the  Banks,  must  issue  a 
million  to  meet  this  demand,  in  addition  to  the  issue  thev 
would  otherwise  make  for  other  purposes;  and  the  same 
depreciation  growing  out  of  a  redundancy  of  paper  cur- 
rency follows,  which  would  happen,  were  the  State  to  issue 
a  million  of  dollars  in  her  own  notes,  and  thus  meet  her 
own  demand.  The  question  is  not  one  pi  the  depreciation 
of  the  currency  by  over  issues  of  paper,  a«  the  number  of 
dollars  in  paper  currency  to  be  placed  upon  the  market  is 
the  same  in  either  case,  but  it  is  simply  a  question  of  in- 
(ctxi^t.  Shall  the  State  use  her  own  notes,  which  pass  readily 
as  currency  without  interest,  and  are  generally  laid  away  as 
an  investment,  or  shall  she  pay  interest  to  a  corporation  for 
the  privilege  of  using  and  circulating  its  notes,  founded 
upon  a  less  secure  basis  than  her  own?  In  my  opinion 
there  is  no  room  for  hesit-ation  in  making  the  decision  in  fa- 
vor of  Treasury  notes.  The  amount  of  interest  saved  to 
the  Treasury  in  one  year  at  seven  per  cent,  upon  the  issue 
of  notes  already  made  in  place  of  bonds,  is  S1G2,400.  To 
this  might  have  been  added  the  further  sum  of  S170,S70, 
had  I  been  authorized  by  the  statute  to  issue  and  use  Treas- 


Lj  .•  no  A  e\ 


6 

ury  notes  in  place  of  bonds  to  meet  the  Confederate  war 
tax.  This  statute  was  a  special  one  for  a  special  purpose, 
however,  ^nd  confined  me  to  the  use  of  bonds  without  giv- 
ing me  discretion  to  issue  Treasury  notes, 

CONFEDERATE    WAR   TAX. 

An  act  passed  at  your  last  session  assumed  the  payment 
of  the  Confederate  War  Tax,  assessed  against  the  people  of 
this  State  for  last  year,  and  made  it  my  duty  to  raise  the 
amount  by  the  sale  of  State  bonds,  with  but  one  restriction, 
which  was  that  they  should  not  bear  exceeding  eight  per 
cent,  interest  per  annum.  As  the  Confederacy  and  the 
other  States  generally,  were  paying  eight  per  cent.,  it  was 
not  supposed  that  this  Sthte  would  be  able  to  raise  the 
money  upon  bonds  bearing  a  less  rate.  Before  I  could  get 
the  Treasury  notes  prepared,  which  I  was  authorized  to  is- 
sue for  other  purposes,  I  had  to  negotiate  some  temporary 
loans  with  the  banks  at  eight  per  cent,  to  raise  money  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  army  till  the  notes  could  be  is- 
sued. It  is  but  justice,  however,  that  I  remark,  that 
all  the  Banks  except  the  Bank  of  Commerce  and  the 
Bank  of  the  State,  refused  to  accept  more  than  seven  per 
cent,  on  settlement  for  this  temporary  advance.  The  war 
tax  was  due  the  1st  of  April,  and  as  I  anticipated  some  dif-* 
ficulty  in  securing  promptly  so  large  a  sum,  I  visited  Sa- 
vannah in  the  latter  part  of  January,  and  had  an  interview 
with  some  of  the  most  prominent  bankers  of  the  city,  vv^iich 
resulted  in  a  proposition  on  their  part  to  take  the  bonds  of 
the  State  running  ten  years,  bearing  7  per  cent.,  payable 
quarterly,  and  advance  money  to  meet  the  emergency  if  I 
would  pay  interest  from  first  of  February.  To  this  I  con- 
sented, and  the  banks  advanced  $2,000,000,  a  portion  of 
which  was  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  Treasurer  after  the 
first  of  February,  and  bore  interest  only  from  the  date 
when  it  was  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  State.  Having  no 
use  for  the  money  till  the  first  of  April,  the  date  when  the 
tax  was  due,  I  proposed  to  pay  it  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  if  he  would  allow  sev^per  cent. ifpon  the  adr 
vance,  till  the  tax  should  became  clue.  This  proposition 
was  declined,  and  I  then  invested  it  in  the  six  per  cetit. 
stock  of  the  Confederacy,  and  was  able  to  realize  six  per 
cent,  upon  it  till  first  of  April.  J3ankers  from  other  States 
would  have  taken  the  balance  of  the  bonds,  but  I  thought 
it  best  to  put  them  on  the  market  in  this  State,  and  let 
them  go  into  the  hands  of  our  citizens"  if  they  would  pur- 
chase them.  This  was  done  by  a  publication  asking  bids 
for  them  at  par  till  first  of  March.  The  bids  were  more 
than  sufllcient  to  cover  the  whole  balance  of  the  proposed 
issue.  The  issue  and  sale  under  this  act  amounts  to  $2,-' 
441,000  in  bonds. 


The  precise  amount  of  the  State's  quota  of  the  tax  could 
not  be  ascertained  on  the  tirst  of  April,  and  the  Secretaiy  of 
the  Treasury  proposed  that  I  pay  the  amount  supposed  to 
be  due,  and  that  a  final  settlement  be  made  when  the  neces- 
sary data  could  be  obtained.  To  this  I  agreed.  Recently 
I  was  furnished  with  a  statement  making  Georgia's  quota, 
less  the  ten  per  cent.,  S-2,oo4,12S  o?.  Upon  the  receipt  of 
this  statement,  the  Comptroller  General,  who  has  so  ofteii 
saved  to  the  State  Treasury  large  sums  by  his  vigilance  and 
industry,  carefully  compared  the  returns  of  the  counties 
with  the  returns  of  taxable  property  made  to  the  State  Re- 
ceivers, and  found  that  the  difference  in  some  counties  was 
so  great  that  mistakes  for  large  amounts  must  necessarily 
have  been  committed  against  the  State.  This  matter  was 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Chief  Collector  for  this 
State  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  After  some  cor- 
jespondence,  the  Comptroller  General  visited  Augusta,  and 
after  a  careful  examination  of  the  books  with  Judge  Starnes, 
the  obliging  Collector,  it  was  found  that  the  quota  of  the 
State,  after  deducting  the  ten  per  cent.,  amounted  to  only 
$2,494,112  41.  The  amount  saved  to  the  Treasury  of  the 
State  by  the  correction  of  these  errors  committe<l  by  sub- 
collectors,  and  detected  by  the  Comptroller  General,  is  S60,- 
016  IG.  Finding  the  sum  raised  by  the  sale  of  the  bonds, 
together  with  interest  on  call  certificates,  and  from  indvid- 
uals  on  coupons,  to  be  $33,074  01  less  than  the  amount  of 
tax  due  on  the  final  settlement,  I  ventured  to  raise  the  money 
by  the  use  of  Treasury  notes  at  par,  without  interest,  in 
place  of  bonds  bearing  interest  as  directed  by  the  statute, 
which,  I  trust,  will  meet  the  approval  of  the  General  As- 
sembly. 

While  it  was  diflicult  to  mi?e  the  money  on  seven  per 
cent,  bonds  at  par  when  tirst  pl;>ced  on  the  market,  and  the 
banks  acted  with  liberality  in  agreeing  to  take  them  when 
other  good  securities  were  offered  at  eight  per  ceut.,  and  by 
their  action  attracted  the  attention  of  private  ©apitalists  to 
them,  they  have  lost  nothing  by  their  liberality,  as  the 
bonds  have  since  that  time  greatly  appreciated  in  the  mar- 
ket, and  are  now  regarded  a  most  desirable  investnieDtat  a 
considerable  premium. 

COMITROLLEK  GENERAL'S  DEPARTMENT. 

The  report  of  this  able  officer  is  replete  with  vabiable 
information,  statistical  tables,  &c.,  which  have  been  prepared 
withureat  care  and  labor.  It  is  but  justice  to  say  that  Col. 
Thweatt,  the  vigilant  and  active  head  of  this  department, 
has.  bv  his  annual  reports,  furnished  much  valuable  infor- 
mation to  the  present  generation,  and  important  material 
for  the  use  of  the  future  historian  of  the  State.  The  law 
imposes  upon  that  officer  very  laborious  duties  connected 


with  the  finances  of  the  State,  the  collection  of  the  taxes, 
and  the  auditing  of  claims  against  the  Treasury.  All  set- 
tlements with  Collectors  are  made  in  that  office.  Colonel 
Thweatt,  by  his  active  energy,  has  secured  to  the  Treasury 
many  thousands  of  dollars  due  by  Collectors  prior  to  the 
commencement  of  his  term  of  office,  and  has  prevented  the 
accumulation  of  these  claims.  The  correspondence  im- 
posed upon  him,  in  making  settlements  and  in  furnishing  in- 
formation to  the  Tax  Collectors  and  to  the  Inferior  Courts 
of  the  State,  in  connection  with  the  taxes,  is  very  laborious. 
This,  with  the  other  duties  of  his  othce,  is  more  than  any 
one  man  ought  to  be  required  to  do.  I  therefore  recom- 
mend, as  an  act  of  justice,  that  he  be  allowed  a  clerk,  with 
a  salary  sufficient  to  secure  the  services  of  an  intelligent, 
experienced  business  man. 

STATE    TROOPS. 

In  compliance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Greneral  Assem- 
bly passed  at  its  last  session,  directing  me  to  transfer  the 
State  troops  to  the  Confederacy  with  the  consent  of  the 
troops,  I  ordered  the  question  of  transfer  to  be  submitted 
to  a  fair  vote  of  each  organized  body  of  troops,  and  the 
majority  against  the  transfer  amounted  almost  to  unanimity. 
Soon  after  the  passage  of  the  Conscription  Act,  however, 
which  passed  after  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  enlistment 
of  part  of  the  men",  but  a  short  time  before  the  end  of  the 
term  of  much  the  larger  portion  of  them,  tbe  Secretary  of 
War  informed  me  that  all  the  State  troops  befrween  IS  and 
35  years  of  age  must  go  into  the  Confederate  service.  At 
that  time  an  attack  upon  the  city  of  Savannah  was  daily 
expected,  and  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  conflict  and  col- 
lision with  the  Confederate  authorities  in  the  face  of  the  en- 
em}^  I  agreed  to  yield  the  point,  and  I  immediately  ten- 
dered the  State  Army  to  Brigadier  General  Lawton,  who 
then  commanded  the  Military  District  of  Georgia,  Major 
General  Henry  R.  Jackson,  who  commanded  the  State 
troops,  having  retired  from  the  command  to  prevent  all  em- 
barrassment. General  Lawton  accepted  the  tender,  and  as- 
sumed the  command  of  the  troops.  The  claim  made  by 
the  Secretary  of  War  did  not  include  those  under  18  or  over 
35  years  of  age,  but  it  was  thought  best  to  tender  the 
whole  together,  as  the  detachment  of  those  between  18  and 
35  from  each  organization  would  have  disorganized  the  en- 
tire force. 

While  referring  to  the  subject,  I  feel  it  a  duty  which  1 
owe  to  the  gallant  officers  and  brave  men  who  composed  the 
State  Army,  to  say  that  they  were,  at  the  time  of  the  trans- 
fer, as  thoroughly  organized,  trained  And  disciplined,  as  pro- 
bably any  body  of  troops  of  equal  number  on  the  conti- 
nent, who  had  not  been  a  mucli  longer  time  in  the  field. 


They  had  performed,  without  murmur,  au  ahiiost  incredible 
amount  ot  hibor  in  erecting  fortifications  and  field  works 
necessary  to  the  protection  of  the  city,  and  had  made  their 
position  so  strong  as  to  deter  the  enemy,  with  a  force  of 
vastly  superior  numbers,  from  making  an  attack.  While 
they  regretted  that  an  opportunity  did  not  otfer  to  show 
their  courage  and  elficiency  upon  the  battle-field,  they 
stood,  like  a  bulwark  of  stout  hearts  and  strong  arms,  be- 
tween the  city  and  the  enemy,  and  by  their  chiviilrous  bear- 
ing and  energetic  pre])aration,  in  connection  with  the  smal- 
ler nunjber  of  brave  Confederate  troops  near,  saved  the  city 
from  attack  and  capture,  without  bloodshed  and  carnage. 

It  is  but  justice  to  Majo;  General  Jackson,  tliat  it  be  re- 
marked, that  he  had,  with  untiring  energy  and  consummate 
ability,  pressed  forward  the  preparation  of  the  defenses  and 
the  training  ol  the  auny,  and  tluit  the  people  of  Georgia 
owe  much  of  gratitude  to  him  for  the  safety  of  the  city  of 
Sttvauuah  and  its  present  freedom  from  the  tyrannical  rule 
of  the  enemy.  There  is  not,  probably,  an  intelligent,  im- 
partial n)an  ia  the  State  who  does  not  regret  that  the  ser- 
vices of  this  distinguisl\cd  son  of  Georgia  should  not  have 
been  properly  appreciated  by  the  Confederate  authorities, 
and  that  lie  should  not,  after  the  Georgia  army  was  trans- 
ferred, have  been  invited  by  the  I'resident  to  a  command 
equal  to  his  well  known  ability  and  merit.  This  was  re- 
quested by  the  Executive  of  this  State,  which  request  was 
presented  to  the  President  by  her  entire  delegation  in  Con- 
gress. 

It  is  also  due  Brigadier  Generals  George  P.  Harrison,  F. 
W.  Capers,  and  W.  H.  T.  Walker,  that  their  names  be  hon- 
orably mentioned  for  enlightened  generalship  and  efficiency 
as  commanders  of  their  respective  brigades.  The  Execu- 
tive ot  the  State,  appreciating  the  merits  of  these  oflicers, 
asked  for  positions  lor  them,  as  commanders  in  the  armies 
of  the  Confederacy,  but  neither  of  them,  so  far  as  I  know, 
has  been  temlered  any  command.  If  this  might  be  ex- 
cused as  to  Generals  Harrison  and  Capers,  on  the  ground 
that  they  were  not  graduates  of  West  Point  and  old  army 
officers,  though  one  of  them  has  a  thorough  military  educa- 
tion, and  the  other  is  known  to  be  a  most  valuable,  energetic 
military  man,  having  the  confidence  of  the  whole  people  of 
the  State,  this  excuse  does  not  apply  in  the  case  of  General 
Walker,  who  is  a  son  of  Georgia,  a  graduate  o!  West  Point 
and  an  old  soldier,  who  has  shed  his  blood  in  his  country's 
service  on  many  a  battle  field.  His  ability  and  gallantry 
are  acknowledged  by  all  who  admire  cool  courage  and  high- 
toned  chivalry.  But  no  one  of  the  Georgia  Generals  who 
commanded  her  State  army  has  since  been  invited  to  a  po- 
sition, and  even  this  gallant  old  soldier  is  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement,  while  thousands  of  Georgia  troops  who 


10 

entered  the  service  of  the  Confederacy  under  requisitions 
upon  the  State,  and  whose  right,  under  the  Constitution,  to 
be  commanded  by  Generals  appointed  by  the  State  is  too 
clear  to  admit  of  doubt,  are  thrown  under  the  command  of 
Generals  appointed  from  other  States,  many  of  whom  have 
had  neither  the  experience  in  service,  nor  the  distinction, 
which  General  Walker  has,  while  confronting  the  enemies 
of  his  countrv,  purchased  with  his  blood  uiton  the  battle 
field. 

STATE    ARMORY. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Act  entitled  an 
Act  to  provide  for  tlie  manufacture  and  purchase  of  arms 
for  the  public  defense  and  to  appropriate  money  for  the  same, 
which  appropriates  $3-50,000  for  the  purposes  indicated  in 
the  title  of  the  Act,  and  authorizes  the  GoVernor,  if  the 
money  is  not  in  the  Treasury,  when  needed,  to  raise  it  by 
the  sale  of  8  per  cent  bonds,  with  discretion  to  issue  part 
of  the  amount  in  Treasury  notes,  &c.,  I  directed  the  es- 
tablishment of  an  Armory  in  the  Penitentiar}^  and  employ- 
ed Mr.  Peter  Jones,  who  was  long  connected  prominently 
with  the  Armories  and  manufacture  of  arms,  for  the  United 
States,  to  take  charge  of  and  superintend  the  works.  He 
has  secured  as  much  material  as  he  could,  and  made  all  the 
machinery  in  his  power,  and  has  made  as  good  progress  as 
could  have  been  expected,  considering  the  many  embarrass- 
ments in  the  way,  and  our  inability  to  import  any  of  the 
material  or  machinery  needed.  We  can  now  turn  out  an 
excellent  arm  at  the  rate  of  about  125  per  month,  and 
will  in  the  course  of  a  few  months,  it  is  hoped,  be  able  to 
extend  the  capacity  of  the  works,  so  as  to  make  them  a 
source  of  substantial  aid  in  the  achievement  of  our  inde- 
pendence. 

Iliave  not  been  able  to  purchase  any  small  arms  during 
the  year,  nor  have  I  been  able  to  get  possession  of  much 
the  larger  portion  of  those  purchased  in  Englaiul  prior  to 
your  last  session  and  since  imported'.  About  4,300 'of  the 
excellent  Enfield  rifles  which  were  impofted  <by  the  State 
at  great  risk  and  expense,  have  been  seized  at  the  different 
ports  w^liere  they  landed,  by  officers  of  the  Confederate 
Government  and  carried  beyond  my  reach.  I  have  remon- 
strated agaiiist  these  unauthorized  seizures  6i  the  property 
of  the  State,  and  while  my  remonstrances  have  been  met 
with  respectful  language  by  those  in  authority,  arid  the 
act  generally  apologised  for,  as  a  mistake,  they  have  neg- 
lected to  restore  the  property  seized,  and  have,  after  my 
remonstrance,  repeated  the  seizure  on  the  arrival  of  other 
arms.  As  the  rights  of  the  State  were  disregarded  by  the 
Confederate  authorities,  I  thought  it  unwnse  to  send  more 
money  to  Europe  to  invest  in  other  arms  to  be  lost  at  sea 


II 

or  seized,    without  consulting  the  authorities  of  the  Statlfe;' 
on  their  arrival. 

In  this  connection,  I  would  remark  that  the  State  troops 
generally  brought  with  them  into  service  such  countrj'-  arms 
as  were  at  their  command,  which  were  turned  into  the  State 
Arsenal  when  better  arms  were  furnished  to  them.  Many 
of  these  arms  were  taken  possession  of  by  the  State  author- 
ities and  distributed  among  Confederate  troops  who  were 
without  arms.  Part  of  Col.  D.  J.  Bailey's  regiment,  Con- 
federate troops,  were  armed  with  them,  as  were  part  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Littlefield's  battalion  and  part  of  Col.  Sumner 
J.  Smith's  Rangers.  Compensation  has  not  yet  been  made 
to  the  owners.  I  therefore  recommend  tliat  some  one  or 
more  proper  persons  be  appointed  under  authority  of  law 
to  audit  the  claims  of  citizens  who  were  thus  deprived  of 
their  arms,  and  that  provision  be  made  for  payment  of  just 
compensation  for  all  that  jjave  been  taken  for  the  public 
service. 

CIIAXdi:    BILLS. 

The  Superintendent  of  the  W.  &  A.  R.  Road,  finding  it 
impossible  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  his  office  and  sign  all 
the  change  bills,  which  he  was  required  by  the  Act  of  17th 
Deceirdjer,  1801,  to  issue,  with  my  assent,  employed  ]\Ir. 
Wm.  Grisham  to  sign  the  bills  for  him.  The  whole  amount 
of  bills  issued  to  30th  September  is,  in  round  numbers,  $80,- 
000.  Most  of  these  are  signed  by  Mr.  Grisham  for  the  Su- 
perintendent and  by  Ben.  May,  Treasurer.  The  balance  of 
the  S200,000  will  be  issued  as  soon  as  the  bills  can  be  pre- 
pared, which  has  been  found  to  be  quite  a  laborious  task. 

By  Act  of  30th  November  last,  each  chartered  Bank  in 
this  State,  which  claims  the  provisions  of  the  suspension 
Act,  is  required,  upon  the  application  of  any  person,  to  is- 
sue and  keep  in  circulation  during  its  suspension,  small  bills 
in  denominations  of  five,  ten,  twenty-live  and  fifty  cents,  to 
the  e,xtent  of  owe  per  centum  upon  its  cajfetal  stock,  '\?^ith 
prtvile<je  to  extcna  the  tssue  to  three  ycr  centum.  The  Act 
of  l7th  December  relieved  all  iiidividuals  and  corporations 
who  had  issued  and  put  change  bills  in  circulation,  from  the 
penalties  of  the  existing  laws,  upon  the  redemption  of  said 
bifl^,  but  provided  that  they  should  not  be  authorized  to 
issue  any  oth'eV  change  bills,  or  to  re-issue  those  then  in  cil- 
culation  when  redeemed.  This  law  has  been  constantly" 
ev'aJ'ed,  if  not  openly  violated,  by  individuals  and  coqiora- 
ti6tis,  and  lai-ge  amounts  in  change  bills,  in  the  shape  of 
prortfiises  to  pay  certificates  of  deposit,  acknowledgements 
of  liidebtedncss  to  be  discharged  in  specific  articles,  &c.,  &c., 
have  been  put  into  circulation.  Many  of  these  bills  have 
been  printed  upon  very  inferior  paper  and  are  soon  worn 
out  by  circulation.  If  these  illegal  issues  are  not  eftectu- 
ally  checked,  it  cannot  "be  doubted  that" they  >^ill  result   in 


heavy  losses  to  our  people.  I  therefore  recommend  the 
enactment  of  a  law,  making  it  obligatory  upon  each  char- 
tered Bank  of  this  State  to  extend  its  issues  of  change  bills 
to  as  much  as  three  per  cent  upon  its  capital  stock  ;  and 
making  it  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  and  Comptroller  Gen- 
eral of  this  State  to  issue  and  put  in  circulation  State  change 
bills  of  five,  three,  two  and  one  dollar  and  the  usual  denom- 
inations under  that  sum,  to  the  amount  of  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  redeemable  in  the  Treasury  notes  of  the 
Confederate  States,  when  as  much  as  $20,  is  presented  at 
the  State  Treasury.  And  I  further  recommend  that  the  is- 
sues by  the  Western  &  Atlantic  R.  Road  be  extended  to 
$300,000,  in  bills  of  diiFerent  denominations  from  five  cents  to 
five  dollars,  and  that  it  be  made  highly  penal  for  any  other 
corporation  or  person  to  issue,  circulate,  pay  or  tender  in 
payment  any  other  change  bill,  whether  it  be  a  direct  prom- 
ise to  pay,  a  certificate  of  deposit,  or  in  any  other  form,  in- 
tended to  circulate  as  currency,  except  those  issued  under 
the  authority  of  the  laws  of  this  State. 

This  legislation  would,  it  is  believed,  provide  for  the  issue 
of  as  many  change  bills,  as  might  be  necessary  to  meet  the 
demands  of  our  people,  until  it  may  again  be  possible  to 
procure  silver  change,  and  the  people  might  more  safely  rely 
upon  the  ultimate  redemption  of  the  bills  issued  as  above 
recommended  than  upon  those  now  in  circulation.  The 
law  should  allow  a  reasonable  time  for  the  redemption  of 
illegal  issues  now  in  circulation,  and  to  secure  the  suppres- 
sion of  illegal  issues  in  future,  it  may  be  necessary  to  im- 
pose upon  the  person  violating  the  statute,  a  heavy  pecu- 
niary penalty  to  be  paid  to  the  informer. 

BRIDGE    GUARDS   AND    HOME    PROTECTION. 

*  The  people  of  the  State  have  been  informed  through  the 
medium  of  the  public  press  of  the  facts  connected  vv^th  the 
daring  attempt  made  by  a  band  of  spies  sent  by  the  author- 
ity of  the  enemy  to  burn  the  bridges  ou  the  W.  &  A.  R. 
Road.  The  conduct  of  Mr.  Fuller,  the  Conductor,  and 
of  some  others  in  the  hazardous  pursuit,  while  the  spies 
were  in  possession  of  the  train,  deserves  the  highest  com- 
mendation and  entitles  them  to  the  consideration  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly.  I  therefore  recommend  the  appointment  of 
a  committee  of  the  two  houses  to  inquire  into  the  facts  and 
report  upon  them,  and  that  such  medals  or  other  public  ac- 
knowledgement be  awarded  to  the  parties  whose  conduct 
was  most  meritorious,  as  will  do  justice  to  their  services 
and  stimulate  others  to  like  deeds  of  daring  when  necessary 
for  the  public  security. 

Soon  after  this  bold  attempt  to  burn  all  the  bridges  of  the 
Road  (two  of  which  had  been  burned  and  replaced  but  a 
short  time  previous,)  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  organize  a  mili- 


tary  company  to  guard  this  valuable  property.     Sometime 
after  the  company   had  been  raised,  the  Committee  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  visited  the  Road  and  joined  in  a 
imanimous  recommendation  that  I  add  another  company  to 
the  Guard.   In  deference  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Com- 
mittee, which  my  own  judgment  approved,   I  directed  the 
organization  of  a  second  company.     These  companies  now 
consist  of  about   1-50  men  each,   the   one  commanded  by 
Capt.  E.  M.  Gait,  the  other  by  Capt.  Albert  Howell.     They 
are  mustered   into  service   for  an  indefinite  period  of  time 
and  may  be  disbanded  at  the  pleasure  of  tlie  State.     There 
are  sixteen    valuable   bridges,  besides  smaller  ones,   upon 
the   Road    which  is    a  great   thoroughfare,    and   will    be 
during  the  war  a  great  military  necessity.     The  destruc- 
tion of   two    or   three    of    these  bridges    over   the    large 
streams,    might    not    only   cause    great    derangement   of 
the    business    of    the    Road    and   gr<'at   inconvenience    to 
the  traveling  public,  but  might  so   delay  military  move- 
ments as  to  cause  the  loss  of  an  important  victory.     The 
expense  to  the  State  of  keeping   up  a    sufficient  guani,   is 
inconsi/lerable  when  compared  with  the  object,  and  I  shall 
feel  it  my  duty  to  continue  these    troops  in  service,  unless 
otherwise  directed   by  the  General   Assembly.     Tlie   only 
question  with  me,  is,    whether  the  two   companies   should 
not  be  increased  to  two  regiments,  and   thoroughly  armed, 
equipped  and  trained  and  kept  constantly   in  the  service  of 
the  State  till  the  end  of  the  war.     So  large  a  number  of  our 
arms-bearing  men  have  gone  from  the  State  into  Confeder- 
ate service,  that  we  cannot  feel  entirely  secure  against  in- 
ternal troubles  from  servile  insurrection,  and  even  two  regi- 
ments of  well    armed  and  thoroughly  disciplined  troops  at 
the  conmiand  of  the  State  government,  might,  in  such  event, 
be  the  means  of  preventing  scenes  of  massacre  and  misery 
too  appalling  to  contemplate.    Should  you  think  proper,  by 
resolution  or  otherwise  to  direct  such  organization,  it  would 
meet  jny  cordial  approval,  and  I  should  lose  no  time  in  car- 
rying your  decision  into  practical  operation. 
.  Frequent  complaints  have  been  made  to  me  that  an  tisso- 
ciation  of  persons,  unfriendly  tO  our  government  and  cause, 
has  been  formed  in  the  North-eastern  portion  of  our  State, 
and  that   the   members   of  the  association,  probably  some 
fifty  to  one  hundred   in  number,    to  avoid  military  service, 
have   concealed  themselves  in  the  mountains  and   live  by 
plundering  the  citizens  whose  homes  are  ne«r  their  lurking 
places.     The  State  owes  it  to   her  citizens  to  aflbrd  them 
all  the  assistance  in  her  power  to  protect  them  against  these 
inroads.     Should  an   organization  of  the   character  recom- 
mended, be  formed,  a  portion  of  it  might  be  cavalry,  which 
might  be  used  to  scour  the  mountains  for  the  protection  of  the 
inhabitants,  or  be  thrown  upon  the  coast,  or  into  such  oth- 


H 

er  part  of  the  State,    as  the   security   of  the  people  might 
require. 

DISTILLATION. 

After  our  communication  had  been  cut  off  by  the  enemy, 
and  we  could  no  longer  get  supplies  of  provision  from  Ten- 
nessee and  Kentucky,  it  was  soon  discovered  that  we  had 
none  to  spare,  and  it  was  doubted  whether  there  was 
enough  of  grain  in  the  State  to  answer  all  the  demands  for 
bread.  The  supply  of  Western  whisky  had  however  been 
cut  off,  as  well  as  the  supply  of  provisions,  and  the  demand 
for  that  article  increased  till  distillation  was  commenced  at 
a  rate  that  would,  in  the  course  of  the  Spring  and  early  part 
of  the  Summer,  have  consumed  all  the  grain  that  could 
have  been  purchased,  and  increased  the  price  to  an  extent 
that  must  have  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  the  poorer  classes 
of  our  people,  and  especially  the  families  of  poor  men  who 
were  in  the  army,  to  get  bread.  These  facts  were  made 
known  to  me  from  different  parts  of  the  State,  and  earnest 
appeals  were  made  for  such  action  as  would  protect  our  peo- 
ple against  this  great  wrong.  After  mature  reflection,  1 
was  satisfied  that  it  was  my  duty  to  exercise  all  the  power 
I  possessed  to  check  the  evil.  The  only  ({uestion  was  as  to 
my  constitutional  power  to  act.  There  could  be  no  doubt 
that  I  had  the  power  to  take  private  property  for  public 
use,  and  as  we  were  hard  pressed  by  a  powerful  enemy,  and 
needed  all  the  ordnance  and  ordnance  stores  we  could  com- 
mand, and  as  the  stills  were  made  of  copper  which  could 
be  used  iu  the  manufacture  of  field  artillery,  I  issued  my 
proclamation  ordering  the  militia  officers  of  the  State  to 
seize  the  Still  of  any  person  in  the  State  who  should  con- 
tinue distilling  after  the  15th  day  of  March.  While  there 
were  doubtless  cases  iu  which  the  proclamation  was  evaded, 
and  while  some  military  officei's  may  have  failed  faithfully 
to<  discharge  their  duty,  the  evil  was  in  the  main  checked, 
and  bread  was  saved  to  our  people. 

The  proclamation  only  prohibited  distillation  till  the 
meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  I  now  submit  the 
question  for  your  consideration.  While  it  is  hoped  we  may 
have  a  plentiful  supply  of  corn  for  the  use  of  the  people  of 
the  State,  and  can  spare  son;ie  for  the  army,  we  do  not  know 
what  may  be  the  vicissitudes  of  war,  and  it  is  certainly  the 
duty  of  the  Statesman,  at  such  a  crisis,  to  do  all  in  his  pow- 
er to  so  husband  the  blessings  of  Providence,  as  to  prevent 
suffering  and  secure  a  supply  of  food  for  the  people.  I 
therefore  respectfully  recommend  the  passage  of  a  statute 
prohibiting  the  distillation  of  grain  into  alcohol  or  ardent 
spirits,  except  under  sufficient  restrictions,  for  mechanical 
and  medical  uses,  till  the  end  of  the  present  war.  I  think 
this  legislation  is  demanded  alike  by  an  enlightened  public 
opinion,  and  by  the  exigencies  of  the  times. 


15 

Since  my  proclamation  I  have  permitted  persons  having 
contracts  with  the  Confederate  Government  to  manufacture 
necessary  supplies  of  alcohol  and  whisky  for  the  army,  but 
I  have  found  it  very  difficult  to  prevent  abuses  of  this  priv- 
ilea;e,  and  1  recommend  that  the  terms  upon  which  it  shall 
in  future  be  granted  be  accurately  defined  by  law\  and  that 
Government  manufactories  be  confined  to  one,  or  a  f3w  lo- 
calities, so  that  this  State  shall  not  have  to  bear  more  than 
her  just  part  of  the  burden  of  furnishing  from  her  grain, 
the  ardent  spirits  claimed  to  be  necessary  for  the  use  of  the 
army  of  the  Conieder.ite  Stales. 

I  have  reason  to  believe  that  government  contractors 
have  been  tbrough  the  State  sub-letting  their  contracts,  and 
getting  whisky  made  at  a  much  lower  price  than  that  paid 
them  by  the  Government.  This  speculation  should  not  be 
permitted,  but  the  Government  should  be  authorized  to  lo- 
cate its  distilleries  at  such  points  as  it  may  select,  and  there 
by  its  agents  to  make  Georgia's  part  of  what  it  needs  for 
medicinal  uses  and  no  more. 

SAI.AKIES    OF    PUBLIC    OITICERS. 

I  recommend  that  the  Salary  of  cveiy  public  officer  in 
Georgia,  which  is  fixed  by  law,  where  there  is  no  con- ' 
stitutional  prohibition,  including  the  fees  of  officers  of 
the  Courts,  be  increased  fifty  per  cent,  and  that  the 
Judges  be  all  placed  upon  an  equality  as  they  stood 
prior  to  vour  last  session,  before  the  fifty  per  cent  is 
added,  so  as  to  give  all  the  Judges  of  each  Court  the 
same  compensation.  Produce,  clothing,  groceries,  medi- 
cines, and  all  the  necessaries  of  lite  used  by  a  family,  have 
risen  in  the  market  to  an  Hverage  of  at  least  five  times  as 
much  as  they  cost  when  the  fees  and  salaries  of  public  offi- 
cers were  fixed  by  law.  The  depreciation  of  th(*  currcRcy 
and  the  scarcitv  of  the  supply  of  most  of  these  necessaries. 
Iiave  united  to  produce  this  result.  Tlie  public  officer  now 
receives  the  same  number  of  dollars  in  currency  which  he 
formerly  received  in  gold,  and  can  purchase  with  it  only 
one  fifth  ae  much  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  I  do  not  pro- 
pose to  add  five  hundred  per  cent  to  the  present  salaries, 
which  would  place  the  public  officer  in 'as  good  a  condition 
as  he  was  before  the  war,  but  I  propose  to  add  only  fifty 
per  cent,  and  let  him  lose  the  four  hundred  and  fifty,  as  his 
part  of  the  burden  imjvtsed  by  the  war.  I  think  the  most 
parsimonious  citizen  of  the  State  cannot  deny  the  justice  oli 
this  proposition,  nor  contend  that  the  public  officer  shall 
take  all  the  burden  without  any  of  the  compensation  result- 
ing from  the  present  high  prices.  This  increase  should  in- 
clude the  pay  of  the  members  and  officers  of  the  General 
Assemblv  as  well  as  other  public  servants,  if  the  Constitu- 
tion will  permit,  and  I  think  it  does.  In  making  this  recom- 
mendation, I  cannot   be  justly   chargeable  with  interested 


->*% 


motives,  as  my  own  salary,  though  not  worth  as  much  as 
one  thousand  dollars  was  when  I  first  went  into  office, 
cannot,  under  a  provision  of  the  Constitution,  be  either  in- 
creased or  diminished  daring  my  term  in  office.  This, 
however,  furnishes  no  sufficient  reason  why  others  should 
suffer  injustice.  The  farmer  gets  for  most  of  the  articles 
which  he  produces,  from  three  to  five  times  as  much  as  for- 
merly ;  the  manufacturer  and  merchant  do  the  same  on  their 
productions  and  stock  in  trade.  The  pay  of  the  public 
officer  is  his  living;  or  if  you  will  allow  the  expression,  his 
crop.  Why,  then,  should  he  alone  be  confined  to  the  old 
prices  for  his  income  and  be  compelled  to  pay  the  increased 
prices  for  all  he  has  to  purchase  V  It  is  not  just,  and  a  just 
people  will  not  require  it. 

THE   FAMILIES    OE    OUR    SOLDIERS    IN    SERVICE. 

The  remarks  made  in  reference  to  the  high  prices  of  the 
necessaries  of  life,  apply  to  the  families  of  our  noble  troops, 
who,  by  their  gallant  deeds,  have  illustrated  the  character 
of  our  State  on  the  battle  field,  and  rendered  their  names  im- 
mortal on  a  brilliant  historic  page.  These  heroic  citizen 
soldiers  have  till  recently  received  but  $11  per  month  from 
the  Government  as  wages.  The  act  of  Congress,  pass- 
ed at  its  last  session,  as  reported  by  the  newspapers, 
raises  the  wages  of  the  private  and  the  non-commis- 
sioned officer  four  dollars  per  month.  Many  of  these  pri- 
vates are  poor  men,  who  have  left  behind  them  large  fam- 
ilies dependent  upon  their  own  exertions  for  a  livelihood. 
They  may  be  obliged  to  expend  part  of  their  wages  in  camp 
for  indispensable  articles,  but  if  they  are  not,  and  send  it 
all  back,  it  afiords  their  loved  ones  at  home  a  most  meagre 
subsistence  at  the  present  prices  of  provisions  and  clothing. 
Some  of  the  wealthier  counties,  under  an  act  of  the  last 
session,  are  providing  amply  for  the  wants  of  the  soldiers' 
families,  while  others  are  not  able,  without  an  oppressive 
tax,  to  render  the  large  number  within  their  limits  much 
assistance.  In  this  state  of  thiugs,  I  thudc  it  proper  that 
the  wealth  of  the  whole  State,  when  necessary,  be  compelled 
to  contribute  to  the  wants  of  soldiei's'  families  in  all  parts 
of  the  State,  who  need  assistance.  I  therefore  recommend 
that  the  State  provide,  by  general  appropriation,  a  bounty  of 
one  hundred  dollars  for  the  family  of  each  soldier  from  this 
State  in  service  for  the  war',  or  who  may  hereafter  enter  the 
service  for  a  like  period,  whose  property  w^hen  last  given  in 
by  him  on  the  tax  book,  was  worth  less  than  one  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  like  sum  for  each  widow  of  a  deceased  sol- 
dier and  for  each  widow  who  has  a  son  or  sons  in  service, 
or  who  has  lost  a  son  in  service.  And  I  further  recommend, 
that  the  whole  net  proceeds  of  the  Western  &  Atlantic 
Railroad  for  the  ensuing  year  be  appropriated  to  pay  the 


17 

bounty,  and  that  freights  be  increased  for  that  purpose 
twenty-five  per  cent,  upon  present  prices,  and   that  each 
person  in  this  state  who  has  been  engaged  in  any  kind  of 
speculation,   in    any   of  the  necessaries  of  life,   be  taxed 
thirty-three  and  one-third  per  cent,  upon  the  net  incomes 
of  his  speculation,  to  raise  the  balance  of  the  fund.     The 
oath  of  the  tax-payer  should  be  so  amended  as  to  com- 
pel each  to  state  on  oath  the  income  of  his  speculation, 
and    a    heavy  penalty    should    be   provided    against  any 
one    who   swears  falsely,      I  also  recommend,    that    the 
Governor   of   the    State    be    authorized  to   raise  the  mo- 
ney  to    meet  the   payment    of   this    bounty    by  negotia- 
ting a  temporary  loan  at  five  per  cent,  to  be  paid  to  the 
creditors,  so  soon   as  the  money  is  paid  into  the  Treasury 
by  the  State  Road  and  the  Tax  Collectors.     The  act  should 
provide  for  the  appointment  of  one  or  more  proper  persons 
in  each  county  to  receive  the  money  for  the  families  and 
see  that  it  is  properly  applied  in  the  purchase  of  such  sup- 
plies as  are  actually  necessary  for  the  comfort  of  each  fam- 
ily, and  should  provide  a  heavy  penalty  against  any  one  who 
shall  misapply  the  funds  due  a  soldier's  family,  or  speculate 
directly  or  indirectly  upon  the  bounty  money.     While  they 
are  absent,   enduring  all  the  hardships  and  privations  of 
camp  life,  their  families  should  be  supplied,  if   need  be, 
at  th(>  public  expense,  with  such  of  the  necessaries  of  life  as 
their  labor  will   not   afibrd  them,  cost  the   State  what  it 
may.     The  money  could  be  raised  in  the  manner  above  re- 
commended without  serious  Inirden  to  the  people  of  the 
State,  as  a  large  part  of  the  freight  on  the  State  Road  is 
paid  by  speculators  of  this  and  other  States,  who,  if  their 
commodities  were  shipped  for  nothmg,  would  still  charge 
the  highest  prices  for  all  they  sell.     The  tax  of  thirty-three 
and  a  third  per  cent  upon  the  incomes  of  those  who  have 
been  speculating  upon  the  necessaries  of  life  would  be  just 
and  proper,  and  would  compel  them  to  appropriate  part  of 
their  gams  to  the  benefit  of  our  cause.     Man}-^  of  them  are 
making  large  fortunes  by  taking  advantage  of  the  necessi- 
ties of  the  poor  and  needy,  and  will   do  nothing  for  the 
public  good  unless  they  are  compelled  by  laws  too  str  ngent 
to  be  evaded. 

We  need  not  attempt  to  close  our  eyes  to  the  stern  real- 
ity. The  success  of  our  cause  depends  upon  the  gallantry 
and  endurance  of  our  troops.  They  cannot  fight  unless 
they  and  their  families  can  be  supplied  with  at  least  the- 
necessaries  of  life.  The  wealth  of  the  countiy  must  come 
to  their  relief,  and  contribute  whatever  the  exigencies  may 
require.  The  question  for  each  property  holder  to  consider 
is,  whether  he  will  give  up  part  for  the  protection  of  the 
balance,  or  withhold  the  necessary  contribution  and  lose 
the  whole. 


18 

EXEMPTION   OF   SOLDIERS   FROM   TAXATION. 

In  consideration  of  the  hardships  and  privations  endured 
•  by  our  soldiers  in  service,  and  the  necessities  of  the  fami- 
lies of  many  of  them,  I  recommend  the  enactment  of  a  law 
exempting  all  soldiers  while  in  service  from  the  payment  of 
poll  tax.  I  also  recommend  the  exemption  of  one  thousand 
dollars  of  the  property  of  each  soldier  from  all  taxation 
during  his  continuance  in  service.  Large  numbers  of  our 
troops  have  not  more  than  one  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
property  each.  This  is  all  needed  for  the  comfort  of  their 
families  in  their  absence,  and  should  be  exempt  from  the 
burdens  of  taxation.  Those  who  have  more  than  one  thou- 
sand dollars  should  only  be  required  to  pay  on  the  balance 
beyond  that  sum. 

I  think  it  just  that  the  wealth  of  the  State  and  those  who 
remain  in  the  enjoyment  of  home  comforts,  many  of  whom 
are  accumulating  fortunes  by  speculation,  should  bear  the 
burden  of  the  taxation  necessary  to  support  the  Govern- 
ment, and  the  families  of  those  who  meet  the  enemy  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

CLOTHING   FOR   THE    GEORGIA   TROOPS. 

Information  of  the  most  authentic  character  has  been  re- 
ceived from  the  army,  which  verifies  the  report  that  many 
of  the  Georgia  troops  in  Confederate  service  are  almost 
destitute  of  clothes  and  shoes,  and  must  suffer  terribly  this 
winter,  if  speedy  relief  is  not  afforded.  This  suffering 
should  never  be  permitted  by  the  people  of  the  State  as 
lono-  as  we  are  able  to  raise  a  dollar  for  their  relief.  I  have 
recommended  the  Georgia  Relief  and  Hospital  Association 
to  draw  and  expend  for  clothes  and  shoes  for  the  most  des- 
titute, the  remaining  portion  of  the  appropriation  which 
they  have  not  had  occasion  to  use  for  hospital  purposes,  not 
doubting  that  such  an  application  of  the  money  would  meet 
your  cordial  approval.  They  have  done  much,  but  there  is 
"still  much  more  to  be  done. 

To  meet  the  emergency,  I  recommend  the  passage  of  a 
joint  resolution  of  the  two  Houses,  at  the  earliest  day  pos- 
sible, authorizing  the  Governor  of  this  State,  if  satisfactory 
arrangements  cannot  be  made  with  the  proprietors,  to  seize 
all  the  factories  and  tanneries  in  this  State  and  to  appropri- 
ate their  whole  products  to  this  use,  till  a  good  pair  of  shoes 
and  a  good  suit  of  clothes  are  furnished  to  every  Georgia 
soldier  in  service  who  needs  the  assistance.  I  do  not  know 
that  the  Confederate  Government  would  pay  for  the  supply 
thus  furnished.  If  not,  the  State  is  able  to  give  these  ne- 
cessary articles  to  her  brave  sons  who  are  suffering  for  them, 
and  her  people  should  not  hesitate  a  moment  to  do  it.  It 
would  not  be  necessary  to  keep  the  possession  of  the  facto- 
ries and  tanneries  long,  as  the  winter's  supply  could  soon 
be  made.     The  resolution  should  fix  the  price  per  yard  to 


w 


19 

be  paid  for  cloth,  the  price  per  pound  to  be  paid  for  leather, 
and  the  price  to  be  paid  for  shoes  if  found  ready  made.  As 
no  authority  was  given  me  at  your  last  session  to  expend 
money  to  furnish  necessaries  to  the  troops  in  Confederate 
service,  I  have  not  felt  authorized  to  make  the  seizures  now 
,  recommended,  till  you  have  given  your  sanction  to  the  pro- 
posed action.  The  cold  part  of  the  winter  is  fast  approach- 
ing, the  climate  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky  is  severe,  and  I 
think  humanity,  as  well  as  justice  to  our  fellow  citizens  un- 
der arms,  requires  prompt  action. 

COTTON   AND    PROVISIONS. 

While  cotton  has  long  been  the  great  staple  production  of 
the  State  of  Georgia  and  several  other  States  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, we  have  been  accustomed  to  draw  a  large  portion  of 
our  supplies  of  provisions  from  tlie  Western  States.     In  the 
present  condition  of  the  country  this  is  no  longer  possible. 
Our  ports  are  blockaded  and  we  cannot  import  from  abroad, 
We  are  therefore  left  to  depend  upon  ourselves  for  the  pro- 
duction of  a  supply  sufficient  for  our  people  at  home  and 
our  army.     We  have  the  ability  to  make  this  supply,  if  all 
our  labor,  except  enough  to  make  cotton  for  home  consump- 
tion, is  employed  in  the  production  of  grain  and  other  arti- 
cles used  to  sustain  life.     But  so  large  a  proportion  of  our 
laboring  men  will  be  under  arms  during  the  ensuing  year, 
that  we  cannot  probably  do  more  than   this.     Without  a 
supply  of  provisions  it  is  impossible  to  sustam  our  army  in 
the  lield  and  prevent  the  enemy  from  triumphing  over  us. 
This  question,  then,  becomes  one  of  the  most  vital  impor-* 
tance,  one  upon  which  not  the  '■'nationaliife,''  but  the  lives 
of  our  people  and   the  cause  of  the  Confederaoj  depend. 
The  price  which  cotton  now  brings  in  the  market,  presents 
the  strongest  temptation  to  the  planter  to  produce  a  large 
crop.     And  it  is  feared  that  without  the  restraining  influ- 
ence of  prohibitory  legislation,  much  of  our  land  and  labor 
will  be  employed  in  its  production  nextyear.     The  conduct 
of  the  planters  of  this  State  during  the  present  year  has 
generally  been  alike  commendable  and  patriotic.     But  few 
have  produced  large  crops  of  cotton.     The  fact  must  not 
be  overlooked,  however,  that  the  price  was  low  last  spring 
and  the  temptation  veiy  small  in  comparison  with  that  now 
presented. 

While  our  ports  are  blockaded,  we  cannot  make  useful, 
more  than  is  required  to  clothe  our  own  people.  Then 
why  produce  it,  and  lay  it  up  in  store  to  tempt  the  enemy 
to  penetrate  the  interior  of  our  country  to  obtain  it  ?  Or 
why  keep  it  for  the  benefit  of  commercial  nations  after  we 
have  achieved  our  independence  y  They  have  left  us  at  a 
most  critical  period  to  tafke  care  of  ourselves.  Why,  then, 
should  we  not  leave  them  to  feed  their  own  starving  opera- 
tives till  such  time  as  it  is  compatible  with  our  public  inter-  ,* 


m 

est  to  produce  the  supply  of  cotton,  without  which  they 
must  number  their  paupers  by  millions,  and  support  them 
by  taxation  V  The  States  can  regulate  this  production  by 
the  exercise  of  their  taxing  power.  Tliere  has,  I  believe, 
never  been  a  tax  act  in  Georgia,  from  the  earliest  period  of 
the  State  government  to  this  day,  which  did  not  discrimi- 
nate between  diiferent  kinds  of  property  and  tax  some  one 
higher  than  another.  When  the  power  of  discrimination  is 
admitted,  the  extent  of  its  exercise  is  dependent  upon  the 
discretion  of  the  Legislature.  The  power  to  discriminate 
has  not  only  been  admitted  in  this  State,  but  the  practice 
has  been  uniform  in  its  exercise.  I  therefore  recommend 
the  enactment  of  a  law  imposing  a  tax  of  one  hundred  dol- 
lars upon  each  quantity  of  seed  cotton,  sufficient  to  make  a 
bale  of  four  hundred  pounds  of  picked  cotton  produ- 
ced next  year  upon  all  excess  over  what  is  actually  neces- 
sary for  a  home  supply.  Beyond  such  supply,  produciion 
should  only  be  jiermitted  upon  the  payment  of  a  tax  which 
renders  it  unprofitable  to  the  avaricious. 

I  make  no  recommendation  for  the  imposition  of  a  tax 
upon  the  crop  of  the  past  year,  for  the  reason  that  the  Le- 
gislature had  not  in  advance  notified  the  people  of  the  State 
of  the  necessity  which  must  induce  a  change  of  policy  in 
the  taxation  of  this  staple  production.  As  the  law  upon 
the  Statute  Book  exempted  the  growing  crop  from  taxation 
when  planted,  and  as  many  of  our  planters  were  absent 
from  the  State  in  military  service  and  had  but  little  oppor- 
tunity to  look  to  their  crops  or  other  home  interests,  it  would 
seem  to  be  improper,  by  retroactive  legislation,  to  load 
it  with  a  heavy  tax  when  gathered.  Our  policy  should  be 
made  known  in  advance,  that  each  citizen,  when  he  plants 
his  crop,  may  know  what  the  State  will  require  on  the  pro- 
duction when  made. 

WESTERN  &    ATLANTIC    RAILROAD. 

For  the  operations  of  the  Western  &  Atlantic  Railroad 
during  the  past  fiscal  year,  you  are  referred  to  the  Report 
of  its  faithful  Superintendent.  It  will  be  observed  that  the 
Road  is  now  out  of  debt,  so  far  as  the  existence  of  any  just 
claim  against  it  is  ascertained.  It  has  paid  into  the  Treas- 
ury of  the  State  four  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars 
out  of  net  earnings  for  the  past  year,  and  there  was  due 
the  Road  on  the  30th  September  last,  $577,864  78  from  the 
Confederate  Government  for  transportation  of  troops  and 
military  stores.  Payment  has  been  demanded,  but  not  made, 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  insisting  that  we  should 
receive  Confederate  bonds.  This  I  have  declined  to  do, 
on  the  ground,  that  there  is  no  Taw  of  the  State  author- 
,  izing  the  Superintendent  to  receive  bonds  and  pay  them 
•  .CJnto  the  Treasury  ;  and  on  the  further  ground,  that  it  is  not 


21 

the  policy  of  the  State,  while  she  is  in  debt,  to  invest  in  the 
bonds  of  any  other  State  or  government.  I  have  therefore 
demanded  Confederate  Treasury  notes  which  pass  as  cur- 
rency, and  can  be  used  by  the  State  in  payment  of  her  own 
indebtedness  and  her  current  expenses.  I  trust  the  claim 
may  be  paid  without  much  lurther  delay. 

The  Road  bed  is  in  excellent  condition,  audi  have  at  my 
command  the  means  to  keep  it  so.  I  was  so  fortunate  last 
winter  as  to  be  able  to  purchase  eleven  hundred  tons  of  new 
railroad  bar  at  fifty  dollars  per  ton.  This  iron  is  now  worth 
in  the  market  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars more  than  I  paid  for  it.  I  was  not  the  legal  purchasing 
agent  of  the  Road,  and  if  iron  had  fallen  as  much  as  it  has 
risen,  it  is  quite  probable  there  might  have  been  loud  com- 
plaints, had  I  insisted  that  the  Road  take  the  iron.  I  have, 
tiowever,  given  the  Road  the  benefit  of  the  contract,  wliich 
is  worth  to  the  State  the  sum  above  mentioned.  I  could 
sell  the  iron  at  any  time,  and,  after  refunding  the  sum  paid 
for  it,  could  pay  into  the  Treasury  of  the  State  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars  as  balance  of  proceeds  of  the  sale. 

Since  I  was  first  inaugurated  as  Governor  of  the  State, 
the  Uoad  has  paid  into  the  State  Treasury  $1,949,000,  and 
has  paid  So02,0Sl  07  in  satisfaction  of  debts  and  unliqui- 
dated demands  for  wliich  it  was  then  liable.  It  is  now  in 
as  good  condition  in  every  respect  as  it  then  was,  with  the 
exception  of  the  rolling  stock,  which  has  not  been  kept  up 
as  well  as  usual  for  the  last  two  years,  on  account  of  the 
impossibility  of  procuring,  at  any  price,  part  of  the  mate- 
rial used  in  construction  and.  repairs.  The  amount  due 
the  Road  |from  the  Confederacy  is,  however,  more  than 
double  the  sum  that  would  be  required  to  make  the  repairs 
complete. 

Upon  the  application  of  the  military  authorities  of  the 
Confederate  States,  they  have  frequently  been  permitted  to 
take  our  cars  and  er^gines  and  carry  them  on  other  Roads, 
to  such  points  as  emergencies  might  require.  The  lamented 
General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  had  ordered  a  large  num- 
ber of  our  cars  upon  the  Memphis  iS:  Charleston  lioad,  a 
short  time  before  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  which,  on  account  of 
the  possession  of  that  Road  b}'  the  enemy,  have  not  been 
returned.  At  this  and  other  points  we  have  lost  ISO  cars 
while  in  Confederate  service.  Should  they  never  be  return- 
ed, it  is  expected  that  the  Confederacy  will  pay  for  them 
just  compensation. 

DEFENCE   OF    SAVANNAH. 

I  have  been  informed  by  the  Military  Commander  at  Sa- 
vannah that  it  is  intended  to  make  a  defence  of  the  city  "  to 
extremity,"  and  he  requests  assistance  from  the  State,  in 
the  removal  of  the  women  and  children  and  other  non-com- 
batants from  the  city.     In  view  of  the  fate  of  New  Orleans 


22 

and  other  cities  which  have  been  surrendered  to  the  enemy, 
I  cordially  endorse  and  approve  this  resolution  of  the  Con- 
federate General.  Let  us  hold  the  city  as  long  as  a  house 
or  a  brick  wall  is  left  standing,  behind  which  our  troops  can 
fight ;  and  let  the  State  assume  the  loss  occasioned  by  the 
destruction  of  property,  or  at  least  divide  it  with  the  suf- 
ferers. 

It  will  be  necessary  that  food  and  shelter  be  provided  for 
such  of  the  non-combatants  as  are  unable  to  take  care  of 
themselves,  as  soon  as  possible,  that  they  may  be  removed 
in  advance  of  the  attack.  I  therefore  recommend  an  earl}"" 
appropriation  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  for 
this  purpose. 

STATE    UNIVERSITY. 

In  compliance  with  the  statute,  I  herewith  transmit  the 
report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  University  for  the  pasl  year. 

PENITENTIARY   AND   ASYLUMS. 

For  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  Penitentiary  and 
Asylums  of  the  State,  you  are  referred  to  the  respective  re- 
ports of  the  princi^Dals  in  charge.  It  will  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  the  report  of  Col.  James  A.  Green,  the  Principal 
Keeper  of  the  Penitentiary,  that  he  has  paid  into  the  State 
Treasury,  ten  thousand  dollars  of  net  profits  for  the  past 
fiscal  year.  Col.  Green's  able  and  faithful  management  of 
the  Institution  is  entitled  to  high  commendation. 

OBSTRUCTIONS    OF    OUR   RIVERS. 

It  is  said  the  enemy  are  preparing  gun-boats  of  light 
draught  to  ascend  our  rivers,  and  plunder  our  inland  towns 
and  cities,  while  the  waters  are  high  in  the  winter  season. 
This  can  probably  be  prevented  in  no  other  way  so  eifec- 
tually  as  by  the  obstruction  of  our  streams.  Most  of  them 
can  be  entirel}''  obstructed  by  felling  the  timber  which 
stands  upon  the  banks  into  the  channel  of  the  stream.  It 
may,  however,  be  very  difficult  at  the  end  of  the  war  tore- 
move  these  obstructions  and  restore  the  navigation  of  the 
river. 

As  a  Confederate  General,  who  is  an  Engineer  of  the  first 
order  of  abilit}^  and  acquirements,  is  in  command  of  the 
Military  Department  which  embraces  this  State,  I  have 
thought  it  best  to  leave  the  matter  entirely  in  his  hands  till 
your  meeting. 

The  question  as  to  the  best  means  of  defence,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  any  action  by  the  Confederate  authorities,  is  an 
important  one  well  deserving  your  serious  consideration.  I 
doubt  not  that  the  legislative  department  of  the  State  Gov- 
ernment participates  in  the  regret  felt  by  the  Executive, 
that  the  Confederate  authorities  have  done  no  more  for  the 
defence  of  the  State,  when  so  large  a  proportion  of  her  mi- 


23 

litia  have  left  her  limits  and  gone  into  Confederate  service, 
as  to  leave  her  almost  powerless  for  her  own  protection. 

MILITARY    ORGANIZATION    OF   THE    STATE. 

The  efforts  which  our  relentless  foe  has  proclaimed  to  the 
world,  that  it  is  his  purpose  soon  to  make,  in  violation  of 
all  rules  of  civilized  warfare,  to  incite  servile  iusurrectiou 
among  us,  not  unnaturally  create  serious  con^.ern  in  thi^, 
mind  of  every  Georgian.  So  large  a  number  of  our  arms- 
bearing  men  have  already  gone  into  the  military  service  of 
the  Confederacy,  and  so  many  more  may  soon  be  required, 
that  we  have  comparatively  a  small  number  left  in  each 
county,  and  in  some  localities  where  the  slave  population  is 
very  large,  scarcely  enough  to  direct  their  labor  remain 
with  them.  Those  who  remain  have  generally  given  up  all 
their  best  arms  to  those  who  have  gone,  and  thoy  are  now 
nearly  destitute  of  arms  or  anmiunition.  Our  women  and 
children  are,  therefore,  left  at  home  almost  entirely  without 
protection.  In  this  condition  of  our  people,  a  general  in- 
surrection, even  at  the  most  exposed  points,  might  be  pro- 
ductive of  scenes  of  misery  and  horror  which  no  language 
can  describe.  To  provide  every  means  possible  for  the  pre- 
vention of  this  terrible  calamity,  is  the  highest  obligation 
of  every  Georgian,  and  the  imperative  duty  of  eveiy  re- 
presentative of  the  people.  Instead,  therefore,  of  permit- 
ting our  military  organization  to  be  disbanded  at  this  criti- 
cal moment,  I  recommend  the  enactment  of  such  laws  as 
will  protect  every  military  and  other  State  officer  in  his 
position,  and  compel  him  to  discharge  his  duties,  or  submit  to 
heavy  penalties.  I  also  recommend  an  extension  of  our  State 
militia  laws  so  as  to  embrace  all  persons  between  sixteen 
and  sixty  years  of  age,  who  arc  able  to  perform  service  in 
their  respective  militia  districts  and  counties;  and  that  the 
best  provision  possible  be  made  to  arm  at  least  a  portion  of 
the  militia  of  each  county  most  exposed  to  danger.  As  it 
is  not  possible  to  procure  a  sufficient  snppiv  of  fire-arms  for 
this  purpose,  1  recommend  that  provision  be  made  to  arm 
as  many  as  possible  with  good  pikes  and  knives.  As  the 
insurgents  would  not  be  able  to  prbcure  many  guns,  pikes 
and  knives  in  the  hands  of  the  militia  might,  in  the  absence 
of  better  arms,  be  made  very  serviceable  in  defence  of  our 
homes  till  the  armed  regiments,  which  I  have  recommended 
to  be  kept  in  the  service  of  the  $tate,  could  be  thrown  to 
the  point  attacked,  or  menaced  with  attack.  If  it  were 
generally  known  among  our  slaves  that  these  precautions 
had  been  used,  and,  in  addition  to  the  militia,  that  a 
regular  armed  force  is  kept  consta-ntly  ready  to  be  thrown 
rapidly  upon  them,  should  they  become  insubordinate,  I 
cannot  doubt  that  a  salutary  effect  would  be  produced.  It 
might  also  be  wise  to  provide  for  a  mounted  police  in  each 


24 

of  the  counties  most  exposed,  to  be  kept  as  a  volunteer 
company,  ready  for  service  at  a  moment's  call,  to  drill  once 
a  week,  and  each  member  to  receive  a  reasonable  compen- 
sation for  his  services  on  the  day  of  drill. 

GEORGIA    MILITARY    INSTITUTE. 

It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  state  that  this  valuable 
State  Institution  has  been  in  a  prosperous  condition  during 
the  past  year.  Many  more  cadets  were  offered  than  the 
buildings  would  accommodate.  I  respectfully  recommend 
an  appropriation,  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  be  used  for  the 
erection  of  the  necessary  buildings,  the  improvement  of  the 
grounds,  and  for  such  other  purposes,  as  the  board  my  find 
indispensable  to  the  permanent  establishment  of  the  Insti- 
tion  upon  a  solid  basis. 

ADJUTANT  AND  INSPECTOR  GENERAL. 

The  report  of  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General,  of  this 
State  with  the  accompanying  documents,  which  give  a  full 
and  sufficiently  detailed  account  of  the  official  transactions, 
and  expenditures  connected  with  that  Department,  together 
with  valuable  suggestions  upon  the  military  organization  of 
the  State,  is  herewith  transmitted. 

General  Wayne  was  the  first  man  who  responded  to  the 
call  of  his  Slate,  when  the  dissolution  of  the  Union  was 
seen  to  be  inevitable,  and  resigned  an  honorable  and  com- 
fortable position  in  the  army  of  the  United  States  to  cast 
his  lot  v/ith  his  native  land,  and  share  her  fortunes  whether 
for  weal  or  for  woe.  From  that  day  to  the  present  time  no 
one  has  labored  more  incessantly  or  zealously,  to  secure  the 
safety,  and  promote  the  prosperity  and  glory  of  his  mother 
State.  His  labors  cannected  with  our  military  organiza- 
tions, both  for  State  and  Confederate  service,  have  been  in- 
valuable ;  and  while  he  has  always  shown  the  self-sacrifi- 
cing disposition  which  is  seen  in  his  report,  no  intelligent 
Georgian,  acquainted  wdth  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  its 
importance,  would  willingly  consent  to  dispense  with  his 
services,  during  the  existence  of  the  war. 

APPROPRIATION   FOR  MILITARY   PURPOSES. 

To  meet  any  expenditures  which  it  may  become  indispen- 
sible  to  make  for  the  defence  of  the  State,  and  the  protec- 
tion of  our  homes  during  the  ensuing  year,  I  recommend 
the  appropriation  of  three  millions  of  dollars  as  a  military 
fund.  I  trust  the  action  of  those  responsible  during  the 
past  year,  will  be  received  as  a  sufficient  guaranty,  that  no 
more  of  the  fund  will  be  used  than  the  exigencies  of  the 
service  may  require. 

SMALL   POX. 

.■^  This  dangerous  disease  has  made  its  appearance  in  several, 
places  in  our  State.     Soldiers  who  have  been  exposed  to  it 


25 

>?v^ithout  their  knowledge,  are  occasionally  returning  home 
on  furlough,  and  there  is  danger  that  it  may  spread  and  be- 
come a  great  scourge. 

As  our  people  are  too  careless  about  adopting  the  neces- 
sary preventive,  1  recommend  such  legislation  as  will  secure 
the  early  vaccination  of  all  persons  in  the  State  subject  to 
the  disease. 

SALT. 

Messrs.  Stotesberry  and  Humphries,  of  Scriveu  county, 
complied  with  the  terms  prescribed  by  the  act  passed  at  your 
last  session,  on  the  subject  of  the  manufacture  of  salt,  and 
after  giving  a  mortgage  on  sufficient  property,  drew $10,000 
of  the  appropriation.  1  am  not  aware  of  any  active  etibrts 
made  by  them  to  any  considerable  extent  to  make  salt. 
Under  the  circumstances,  they  should  either  proceed  with 
the  business  or  refund  the  money  which  un,der  the  law.  they 
hold  without  the  payment  of  interest. 

Finding  that  the  money  placed  at  my  command  by  the 
act  would  be  wholly  inadequate,  and  that  but  little  could 
be  o.\})ected  under  the  provisions  of  this  statute,  I  felt  it 
my  duty  to  take  the  responsibility  to  make  such  arrange- 
ments as  in  my  judgment  would  do  most  to  secure  a  sup- 
ply of  this  indispensable  article  to  our  people.  The  Vir- 
ginia Salt  Works  in  Smythe  and  Washington  counties,  were 
believed  to  be  the  resource  most  to  be  relied  upon.  The 
Legislature. of  that  State  held  an  extra  session  early  in  the 
summer,  and  determined  not  to  purchase  nor  lease  those 
works,  but  to  leave  them  in  the  hands  of  the  proprietors. 
Immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  session,  I  sent 
Hon.  John  W.  Lewis  (who  tendered  his  services  without 
compensation,  at  his  own  expense,)  to  the  works,  as  the 
agent  of  this  State.  While  there,  he  succeeded  in  closing 
a  contract  with  the  proprietors  for  the  use  of  water  and 
privilege  to  make  -300  bushels  of  salt  per  day.  This  was 
the  greatest  quantity  he  could  atthat  time  procure  privilege 
to  make.  He  also  employed  Maj.  M.  S.  Temple,  of  East 
Tennessee,  to  manufacture  the  salt  for  the  State.  The 
whole  cost  to  the  State  of  each  bushel  of  fifty  pounds  is  one 
dollar  and  iifty  cents,  when  weighed  from  the  kettles.  We 
have  to  receive  the  salt  as  it  is  made,  before  it  is  thoroughly 
dry,  and  it  loses  about  one-fifth  in  drippage  and  wastage  by 
the  time  it  reaches  Atlanta.  The  sacks,  the  express  freight 
upon  them,  and  the  Railroad  freights  on  the  roads  in  East 
Tennessee  and  Virginia  are  all  uncommonly  high. 

Feeling  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  State  to  atibrd  relief  as 
far  as  possible,  first  to  the  families  of  our  gallant  soldiers, 
I  directed  the  Commissary  General  of  the  State,  who  is 
charged  with  the  responsibility  of  the  distribution  of  the 
salt,  to  make  a  donation  of  one-half  bushel  to  the  widow  of 
each  soldier  of  this  State  who  has  died  in  military  service. 


and  to  each  widow  who  has  lost  a  son  in  service  ;  and  to 
sell  to  the  Inferior  Court  of  each  county  a  half  bushel  for 
one  dollar,  for  each  family  of  a  soldier  now  in  service,  or  of  a 
widow  who  has  a  son  in  service.  The  Justices  of  the  In- 
ferior Courts  of  the  several  counties  have  been  requested  to 
make  a  return  to  the  Commissary  General  of  the  names  of 
all  the  soldiers'  wives  and  widows  in  their  respective  coun- 
ties, and  I  directed  that  officer  to  distribute  the  salt  among 
the  counties  in  the  order  in  which  the  Courts  made  their 
reports.  Consequently,  the  counties  whose  Courts  were 
most  active  and  reported  first,  have  long  since  received  their 
salt,  while  some,  I  believe,  have  not  yet  reported. 

So  soon  as  this  distribution  is  completed,  it  is  proposed 
to  put  the  State  salt  upon  the  market,  at  such  rates  as  will 
enable  us  to  pay  all  cost  upon  it.  It  will  probably  be  ne- 
cessary to  sell  the  balance  at  about  five  dollars  per  bushel, 
to  make  it  pay  all  costs  and  charges.  By  the  adoption  of 
this  plan,  all  who  purchase  are  taxed  something  for  the  as- 
sistance of  the  soldiers'  families  and  widows  who  have  had 
each  one.half  bushel  on  the  terms  above  mentioned. 

In  the  next  distribution,  each  citizen  will  only  be  permit- 
ted to  receive  one  bushel,  till  all  have  received  some  relief. 
The  soldiers'  families  needing  over  one-half  bushel  will  be 
allowed  the  preference  in  this  distribution  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  the  prices  paid  by  others.  Many  a  poor  family 
vdll  need  little  more  than  the  half  bushel  which  they  re- 
ceive under  the  first  distribution.  Those  having  more  means 
can  afford  to  pay  the  prices  paid  by  other  citizens,  for  what 
they  need  over  the  half  bushel. 

It  affords  me  much  pleasure,  in  this  connection,  to  state, 
that  a  company  of  patriotic  citizens  having  its  office  in  Troup 
county,  and  another  in  Augusta,  have  obtained  privilege  to 
make  salt  at  the  Virginia  Works,  and  are  now  turning  out 
daily  a  large  quantity.  The  State  is  making  500  bushels 
per  day.  and  these  companies  will  soon  average  each  that 
quantity  daily.  They  propose  first  to  supply  themselves, 
and  then  to  sell  to  the  citizens  of  the  State  without  specu- 
lation. The  State  and  each  of  these  companies  has  had 
much  difficulty  in  procuring  the  necessary  labor  and  mate- 
rial to  put  their  works  into  successful  operation.  This  dif- 
ficulty has  been  overcome,  however,  after  some  delay,  which 
we  would  gladly  have  avoided.  I  feel  that  I  should  fail  to 
do  my  duty  were  I  not  to  state  in  this  connection,  that  the 
people  of  this  State  owe  much  of  gratitude  to  Hon.  B.  H. 
Bigham,  who  is  a  member  of  your  body,  for  his  great  ener- 
gy and  activity  as  the  President  of  the  Troup  company. 
He  has  spent  his  time  at  the  works  and  superintended  in 
person,  and  has  rendered  very  valuable  service  to  the  com- 
p  any  and  to  the  State. 

The  Railroad  Companies  of  the  State  have  promptly  re- 


27 

Bponded  to  a  request  made  by  me,  that  they  carry  the 
State's  salt  to  the  depots  of  deposit,  and  thence  to  the 
depot  of  distribution  for  each  citizen  free  of  charge.  This 
act  entitles  them  to  the  thanks  of  the  whole  people.  I 
have  ordered  that  the  State  salt,  the  salt  made  by  the  two 
companies  from  this  State,  and  all  salt  purchased  at  the 
works  by  persons  or  county  associations  for  their  own  use, 
when  no  speculation  is  intended,  be  carried  free  of  charge 
over  the  State  Road. 

As  no  appropriation  had  been  made  which  could  be  used, 
in  carrying  out  my  contract  for  the  A^irginia  Salt,  I  ordered 
the  Treasurer  of  the  W.  &  A.  Railroad  to  advance  to  the 
Commissary  General  sufficient  funds  to  meet  the  necessity. 
It  will  be  necessary  that  the  money  be  refunded  to  him  to 
enable  liini  to  keep  his  accounts  correctly.  For  this  pur- 
pose, I  recommend  the  apj>ropriation  of  one  hundred  thou-  J^ 
sand  dollars  to  be  used  in  the  purchase  of  salt  and  refunded 
to  the  Treasury  of  tlie  State  when  the  salt  is  sold. 

Within  the  hist  few  days  Messrs.  Graves  and  Goldsmith 
have  proposed  to  devote  their  whole  energies  to  the  impor- 
tation of  salt  into  the  State  irom  the  mine  at  New  Iberia 
in  Louisiana,     They  do  not  propose   to  sell  the  salt  on  9 

speculation,  but  wish  only  compensation  for  their  efforts 
and  expenses.  I  have  agreed  to  pay  them  SV.OO  per  bushel 
of  fifty  pounds  for  all  they  will  deliver  in  Atlanta  by  1st 
of  March  next.  If  the  enemy  do  not  interrupt  the  trans- 
portation, it  is  hoped  their  patriotic  efforts  will  be  attended 
by  successful  results. 

Upon  this  subject  it  only  remains  for  me  to  express  my 
deep  regret  at  the  course  lately  taken  by  the  Legislature  of 
the  State  of  Virginia.  As  above  stated,  no  contract  was 
made  with  the  proprietors  of  the  salt  works  in  that  State, 
till  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature,  which  Jn 
extra  session  had  taken  the  question  of  a  supply  of  s^lfc 
into  its  consideration,  aiid  had  adjourned,  without  having 
taken  any  action,  so  f;iP  a«  I  am  informed,  indicating^  pur- 
pose to  seize  tlie  works.  Feeling  that  I  then  had  a  perfect 
right  to  contract  with  the  proprietors,  I  entered  into  the 
engagements,  which  I  have  jueutioned,  with  them,  and 
have  had  large  expenditures  made  in  accordauce  with  the 
contract.  The  two  companies  from  this  State,  with  my 
approval,  acted  in  like  manner,  and  have  expended  large 
sums  in  preparing  to  m&ke  salt,  not  for  speculation,  but  for 
home  supply.  Other  States  also  followed  the  example  of 
Georgia.  I  am  not  aware,  however,  that  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia made,  or,  till  a  late  period,  attempted  to  make  a  con- 
tract with  the  proprietors  of  the  works  for  the  privilege 
to  make  salt  on  State  account.  About  the  time  the  works 
of  this  State,  and  of  other  States  were  going  into  success- 
ful operation,  the  Legislature  of  that  honored  common- 


2S 

.^wealth  again  met  in  extra  session,  and  finding  that  the  peo- 
ple of  Virginia  were  in  need  of  salt,  authorized  the  Gov- 
ernor, in  case  of  necessity,  if  other  resources  failed,  to 
seize  the  works  of  the  other  sister  States  within  her  bor- 
ders. This  seizure,  if  made,  takes  from  the  families  of 
Georgia  soldiers  now  in  Virginia,  defending  the  homes  of 
the  people  of  that  State  more  immediately  than  their  own, 
all  hope  of  getting  salt  in  time  to  prevent  great  suffering. 
This  is  not  an  appeal  to  Virginia  to  furnish  to  our  soldiers' 
families  that  which  she  has  made,  but  it  is  an  appeal  to  her 
to  act  in  good  faith,  and  not  take  from  them  that  which  the 
State  of  Georgia  has  made  with  her  own  capital  and  labor. 
If  Virginia  should  make  the  seizure  under  the  circum- 
stances, her  conduct  will,  in  my  opinion,  be  inconsistent 
w^ith  the  character  of  the  "Mother  of  States." 

So  soon  as  I  saw  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State 
in  the  newspapers,  I  addressed  a  letter  to  His  Excellency 
Governor  Letcher,  upon  the  subject,  a  copy  of  which  I  here- 
with transmit.  I  regret  to  say  to  you  that  I  have  received  no 
reply  from  him,  and  am  therefore  unable  to  announce  to 
you  what  will  be  his  policy.  The  salt  made  by  the  Troup 
Company  was  seized  under  his  proclamation  and  subse- 
quently released,  but  we  have  no  guaranty  against  future 
seizures.  While  I  will  not  believe,  till  compelled,  that 
Virginia  will  attempt  to  rob  Georgia  of  rights  so  impor- 
tant, at  so  critical  a  period,  I  shall  be  ready  to  carry  out 
any  instructions  of  the  General  Assembly  for  the  defense 
of  the  rights  of  the  State  of  Georgia  to  the  last  extremity. 
We  cannot  submit  to  be  deprived  of  the  salt  we  are  making 
under  fair  contracts  made  with  the  proprietors  of  the 
works,  with  the  assent  of  the  State  of  Virginia  strongly 
implied,  and  with  full  knowledge  on  her  part  for  months 
prior  to  the  late  act  of  her  Legislature,  that  Georgia  was 

i  making  heavy  expenditures  at  the  works  to  which  she  did 
iiot  object. 

CONCLUSION. 

Profoundly  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  strug- 
gle in  which  we  are  all  engaged,  the  common  dangers  and 
privations  to  which  we  are  exposed,  and  w4th  the  necessity 
for  unanimity  and  harmony  in  our  legislative  action  ;  I  am 
prepared  to  sacrifice  every  personal  consideration,  to  the 
promotion  of  concord  and  unity,  between  the  different  de- 
partments of  the  Government  of  the  great  State,  whose 
people  have  honored  us  with  their  confidence  at  a  time  of 
no  ordinary  peril ;  and  to  join  with  the  General  Assembly 
in  returning  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  his  past  mercies, 
and  offering  fervant  invocations  for  his  future  protection, 

JOSEPH  E.  BROWN. 


*t 


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